Late surge boosts Steve Saunders

LA QUINTA, Calif, -- Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament, birdieing his final four holes on PGA West's TPC Stadium Course for a 5-under 67.

The 25-year-old Saunders, from Fort Collins, Colo., had a 17-under 199 after 54 holes in the six-day, 108-hole event that will determine player priority rankings for the Web.com Tour season.

"I was just pretty steady all day today and gave myself a lot of opportunities," Saunders said. "I made a 30-footer for birdie on 17 and then hit it in the fairway bunker on 18 and hit it to about 25 and made that one to finish with a flurry, which was cool."

Scotland's Jimmy Gunn and Scott Pinckney of Scottsdale, Ariz., were tied for second. Gunn had a 64, and Pinckney shot 67 -- both on the TPC Stadium Course.

Cal-Berkley products Max Homa and Michael Kim both are T-4, along with Nathan Tyler, four shots off Saunders' lead.

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Probation, fine for shooting golfer

RENO, Nev. -- A Reno man has been placed on probation and fined $1,000 for shooting a golfer whose errant ball broke a bedroom window at his home.

Jeff Fleming was put on probation Thursday for up to five years at a sentencing hearing in Washoe County District Court.

The 53-year-old Fleming faced as much as 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine after he earlier pleaded guilty to a felony charge of battery with a deadly weapon.

Fleming's attorney, Larry Dunn, said Thursday his client fired his shotgun at the golfer from some 50 yards away in an attempt to scare him, not injure him.

The unidentified golfer was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to an arm and both legs.

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Tax breaks power PGA Tour giving

The PGA Tour's nonprofit business model has allowed it to avoid paying up to $200 million in federal taxes over the past 20 years, and its tournaments -- designed to benefit local charities -- operate in ways that fall short of acceptable charitable practices, an "Outside the Lines" analysis of IRS data finds.

The tour's charitable giving is a centerpiece of its golf events, tournament telecasts and website. The professional golf organization touts nearly $2 billion in donations over 75 years.

Yet that philanthropy has been bolstered by millions of dollars of annual tax breaks for the PGA Tour and its tournaments, which often are run by charities that spend far more on prizes, catering and country clubs than they do on sick kids, wounded vets or economic development. In one case, running a PGA tournament actually caused a charity to lose money -- more than $4.5 million over two years, the analysis found.

"Outside the Lines" analyzed the tour's U.S.-based tournaments that received charitable tax exemptions in 2011 (the most recent year available) and found they spent, on average, about 16 percent on actual charity. That figure is far below the minimum 65 percent that charity watchdog groups say makes for a responsible charity.

One of the groups, Charity Navigator, gave a "zero rating" to each of the tournament charities it reviewed for "Outside the Lines."

"The lion's share of the money is going to big prizes, cash prizes for athletes and all the promotion around it, so it's really pathetic, actually," Charity Navigator president Ken Berger said. "Every single taxpayer in this country ultimately is bearing the burden of having to pay the taxes for this wildly inefficient organization that's giving so little to charity."

But questioning the PGA Tour's nonprofit status and charitable giving is disingenuous considering how much it has donated over the years -- far exceeding any tax breaks it may get, PGA spokesman Ty Votaw told "Outside the Lines."

"It's as if no good deed goes left unpunished," he said. Votaw declined an in-person interview but answered some questions via email and on the phone.

Tour officials don't dispute that the percentage donated to charity is low, but they say it simply shouldn't matter. What's more important is the bottom line, Votaw said.

"This isn't a bake sale where there is no overhead and everything is contributed," he wrote in email. "A tournament is a major undertaking that requires significant planning, setup and operation, all of which requires significant expense beyond the time contributed by volunteers."

He said that the tour's commitment to charity is "unprecedented in professional sports;" its donations dwarf the $368 million the NFL says it has spent on charity over the past 40 years.

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Jimmy V event ending after 20 years

CARY, N.C. -- The golf tournament developed to honor the late Jim Valvano's efforts to fight cancer is coming to an end after 20 years.

Organizers with The V Foundation announced in a statement that they are giving up the tournament to focus local efforts elsewhere, including a new partnership with the Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh Marathon. The foundation says it is looking for runners to join its charitable team in the marathon, scheduled for April 13.

In its 20 years, the golf weekend drew about 500,000 spectators and raised about $13.5 million for cancer research.

Foundation spokeswoman Sherrie Mazur said the golf event was run by a staff of three, separate from the foundation. She says it's unclear if those staffers would remain with the foundation.

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Cinks lead Father/Son Challenge

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Stewart Cink and son Connor birdied three of the last five holes Saturday for an 11-under 61 and a one-stroke lead in the Father/Son Challenge.

Stewart Cink made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final at Grande Lakes in the scramble event.

"We were a really good team out there," Stewart Cink said. "We had fun and fed off each other. This was a good time for us to spend together and it turned out today was a really good day of chemistry."

Steve and Sam Elkington were second.

Jack and Gary Nicklaus shot 63. The 73-year-old Jack Nickaus made a 10-foot birdie putt at No. 18.

"I helped (on) a hole!" Nicklaus said.

Defending champions Davis Love III and son Dru were another shot back after a 64, tied with Vijay and Qass Singh, Hale and Steve Irwin, and David Duval and stepson Dean Karavites.

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Matt Kuchar, Harris English up by 4

NAPLES, Fla. -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English took a four-stroke lead Saturday in the Franklin Templeton Shootout, playing the back nine in 9-under 27 in the better-ball round for a 12-under 60.

Kuchar and English were 20 under the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort's Tiburon course. They opened with a 64 on Friday in modified alternate-shot play. The team event ends Sunday with a scramble.

Retief Goosen and Freddie Jacobson were second after a 61.

The teams of Ian Poulter-Lee Westwood and Charles Howell III-Justin Leonard were tied for third at 13 under. Poulter and Westwood shot 61, and Howell and Leonard had a 67.

Kuchar and English had nine birdies and an eagle on Nos. 8-17.

"It's pretty cool," English said. "You just kind of get on a hot streak and you don't really think about anything other than making birdies.

They had a chance for a 59, but Kuchar's 14-foot putt on 18 missed to the left.

Goosen and Jacobson had five straight birdies on Nos. 3-7 and row in a row on Nos. 14-17..

"Overall, not too bad, but yeah, four shots behind tomorrow, we need something really low," Goosen said.

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Van der Walt wins Mandela tourney

DURBAN, South Africa -- Dawie van der Walt shot a 4-under 66 Saturday to win the Nelson Mandela Championship by two shots, giving the tournament a South African victory in a week when the country bids farewell to its former president.

Van der Walt finished with a three-round total of 15-under 195 as the sun eventually shone on the final day of the rain-shortened event. It was his second European Tour victory. England's Matthew Baldwin (68) and Spain's Jorge Campillo (68) were tied for second.

Even before the rain disrupted the first two days, organizers had changed the schedule ensure the tournament didn't run over into Sunday out of respect for the state funeral of Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader who died last week.

"It's making you kind of part of history, winning the Nelson Mandela at this time when it's sad for everyone and everyone's mourning and tomorrow's the big day," van der Walt said, wearing a black ribbon on his cap. "It obviously means a lot and can be something that I can keep close to my heart forever."

Van der Walt lifted a trophy that depicts an image of Mandela surrounded by children and also won a painting bearing the signature of South Africa's most famous figure. The tournament donated money to one of Mandela's charities, a children's hospital that bears his name.

Englishman Daniel Brooks had held a three-shot lead after the second round in Durban, which was only completed earlier Saturday because of the weather delays. But he struggled with five bogeys and a double bogey in his final-round 76.

Van der Walt, who was tied for second heading to the final 18 holes, made five birdies and an eagle to go with three bogeys on the Mount Edgecombe course. He recovered from his third bogey at No. 11 by making eagle at No. 12 and birdie at No. 13. The South African also caught a break on the par-5 No. 14 when a shot heading toward the rough took a favorable bounce.

Neither Baldwin nor Campillo could apply enough pressure in the final stretch, with Baldwin making just one birdie in his last 11 and Campillo dropping a crucial shot at No. 15. Campillo and Colin Nel on Friday became the first players to shoot 59s in a European Tour event, although their scores don't count as records because players were given preferred lies on the rain-soaked course.

France's Romain Wattel was alone in fourth at 12 under and South Africa's Oliver Bekker fifth. American John Hahn finished in a four-way tie for sixth alongside four-time European Tour winner Branden Grace.

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Phil Mickelson recalls the last time he tossed a golf club in anger

Phil Mickelson takes a walk down memory lane after his induction into the Phoenix Open Hall of Fame.

Phil Mickelson has earned his stature as one of the most popular golfers on the PGA Tour, in no small part because of his affable nature. Turns out, fans can thank Phil’s father for his son’s aversion for throwing clubs à la Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson and, no doubt, a few other players who toil in relative anonymity.

"One time I banged a club on the ground when I was 8 or 9 and my dad made me stop playing," Mickelson told an appreciative audience during his Thursday induction into the Waste Management Phoenix Open Hall of Fame. "I had to walk the next few holes until I was able to have fun again."

That day some 35 years ago was the last time the winner of three Phoenix Opens, including the 2013 edition, tossed a tool of his trade in frustration, which is just as well, given what happened when he did so, for sport.

The non-stop happy hour that is the annual get-together at TPC Scottsdale, as anyone familiar with the "Wasted Open" is aware, is not your father’s golf tournament. While the always hilarious caddie races have, lamentably, gone the way of the mashie niblick, there’s still plenty of opportunity for rowdyism within the confines of the 7,216-yard, par-71 track.

Despite its reputation as the PGA Tour’s frat party, Mickelson was surprised to learn that, during a pro-am some time ago, there was an actual club-throwing contest on the range near the ninth hole. If the competition had taken place adjacent to, or even on, the notorious 16th hole, it may have made more sense.

In any case, being somewhat out of practice in tossing golf clubs, Mickelson’s pro-am partners gave him a quickie lesson, which didn’t work out so well for any of them.

"I hadn’t ever thrown a club since I was 8, so they said, ‘oh, it’s easy, just whirl it,’" recalled Mickelson, who mimed the motions of the unfamiliar stroke.

Which he did, almost killing his partners when he duck-hooked his shot way right.

"I didn’t let go in time and the club goes backwards and misses [their heads] by eight inches," he said, to nervous titters throughout the room at the Phoenician Resort. "I about took [them] out ... and that’s now officially the last time I’ve thrown a club still."

During the ceremony, Mickelson waxed nostalgic about his ties with the community, which include memories of meeting his wife Amy when she was a Phoenix Suns dancer, business relationships forged since his time at Arizona State and his brother Tim's job as ASU's golf coach. In addition, the lower track at nearby Whisper Rock Golf Club was Mickelson’s first course design.

"My ties here and friendships have meant a lot to me and something I treasure and I dearly miss, as I’ve had my family move to San Diego," said Mickelson, who praised all things Arizona sports, from heaping kudos on ASU football coach Todd Graham and Arizona Cardinals star Larry Fitzgerald, to bringing it back around to golf.

"To be part of that sports here in the valley and to now have won the Phoenix Open three times and be part of the Hall of Fame," Mickelson said, "it feels so great and it's such an honor to be a part of that history and to have entrenched these relationships that have meant so much to me ... starting back in 1988 when I first came here."

The enthusiastic appreciation he expressed for the area, combined with the fact that his longtime caddie and friend, Jim Mackay, calls Arizona home, had some wondering if Mickelson, who took heat earlier this year for complaining about the California tax rate, was planning to return.

"We’re taking it slow," he told azcentral.com. "We’re not making any quick reactions. I love getting back here. I don’t know if it will be on a permanent basis or not. We’ll see. But it’s so fun to come back and see everybody."

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Top 25 golf stories of 2013, No. 7: Jason Dufner steals show from Tiger and Phil, wins PGA Championship

It was a breakout summer for one of golf's best characters, who picked up a career-defining win at Oak Hill in August.

The summer was dominated by old hands Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson re-ascending to the top two spots in the world, but the year in golf also featured some new names emerging as superstar personalities, perhaps none bigger than Jason Dufner.

The lumpy deadpan Auburn fanatic had made a dent on the world golf scene before 2013, but this was certainly a breakout year for Dufner. It started with the "Dufnering" meme ignited from a candid shot of a dour Duf sitting like a corpsicle while making an appearance at an elementary school. On the course, however, Dufner pushed his profile to the next level with his first career major win, the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in August.

Dufner's a relatively gregarious figure for golf, an engaging and entertaining Twitterer with a lip protruding from a giant wad of Copenhagen. But until August, he was probably best known on the course for a late collapse at the PGA in 2011 and for being an expressionless mime. That all began to change in 2012, when he won twice (and nearly three times) in the span of a month to get on the board with his first PGA Tour victories. It started to remove the stain of blowing a five-shot lead in four holes in Atlanta the prior year. A successful inaugural Ryder Cup appearance also helped burnish his image as one of the best upcoming talents in the game.

His 2013 season, however, slots him right at the top of that second tier behind Woods and Mickelson, and the win at Oak Hill cemented his status as a fan favorite. It started on Friday, when Dufner made his first charge up the leaderboard by matching the majors scoring record with a round of 63(joining 23 others) and setting a new competitive course record. For much of the round, it looked like he was well on his way to becoming the first ever to shoot 62, a number boosted by his hole-out eagle on No. 2 at the historic Rochester setup.

Dufner is considered one of the best ball strikers in the game, puring his irons regularly, and that hole-out was a harbinger of repeated darts into Oak Hill's softened-up greens when it mattered most on the weekend. He had multiple chances over the final four holes to set a new record, but some shaky putting prevented one last birdie. It's a club that he's admittedly not confident with, but that shakiness would not carry over to the weekend.

And it seemed like he barely needed the putter on Sunday, as his approaches continued to drop right on top of the flagstick. Dufner was pushed by playing partner Jim Furyk, a former major champion but someone who was also trying to exorcise the memory of recent late collapses at major moments. Dufner didn't provide much of an opening, thanks to those approach shots that kept cozying up to the cup (here at No. 8):

Then, after exchanging blows with Furyk on the back nine and hanging on to avoid the blow-up hole that plagued him in 2011, Dufner stuck one on the 16th to up the ante:

While it appears that his facial nerves barely work on the course, the nerves with the hands on the putting surface are always fully exposed. That tap-in birdie, however, allowed him the cushion to bogey the final two holes coming in to hold off Furyk and capture a career-defining victory.

During a week in early August where there are not of ton of big sports stories jostling for your attention, Dufner's Sunday stroll took over. He had long been a personality that many identified with, and now the rest of the sports world was learning more about the character.

He added to the phenomenon in the way he greeted his wife on the final green after winning, and a subsequent appearance on Howard Stern to discuss the moment.

Of course, thanks to an impressive Presidents Cup and the recent developments with his beloved Auburn Tigers, the year just keeps getting better and the headlines keep rolling in for the Duf. That one weekend in August, however, was one of the top stories that defined this year in golf.

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Sergio Garcia’s hole-in-one is official, dual 59s are not, in overseas golf tourneys

Sergio Garcia rides an ace to a share of the lead in Thailand, while two golfers in South Africa card magical 59s but European Tour rules preclude them from entering the record books.

Sergio Garcia, whose nearly 16-month winless skid has gone virtually unnoticed in the face of Tiger Woods’ and Rory McIlroy’s higher-profile droughts, scored an ace in Thailand to put himself on the brink of his first worldwide victory since he won the 2012 Wyndham Championship last August. And his eagle-1 on the 198-yard, par-3 eighth hole at Amata Spring Country Club during Friday’s second round of the Thailand Golf Championship is official.

That’s more than you can say for a couple of golfers playing in the Nelson Mandela Championship in South Africa, each of whom achieved a feat never before accomplished on the European Tour, only to learn their matching 59s won’t go in the record books.

Jorgo Campillo and Colin Nel went sub-60 within 10 minutes of each other at Mount Edgecombe Country Club in Durban and their scores helped them to get to T1 and T24, respectively. They won’t go down in history as the first and second Euro Tour golfers ever to hit the magic number because they played their soggy second rounds in the rain-delayed tourney under rules that allowed them to lift, clean, and place their balls.

Under tour mandates, the preferred-lie edict makes the round unofficial. So while Nel and Campillo each went 11-under, they officially joined the ranks of golfers like American Peter Uihlein, who earlier in the year missed an official 59 by a measly couple of inches.

Ryo Ishikawa carded a 12-under 58 on the Japan Golf Tour in 2010, giving him the lowest professional score on record. Players have carded 59s 14 times on tours other than the Euro, according to UPI, with Jim Furyk the most recent Mr. 59, when he went 12-under in September at the BMW Championship.

But back to Garcia, whose ho-hum 65 gave him an 11 under and a share of the midway lead with reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose. On his ace, the 33-year-old Spaniard and Tiger nemesis couldn't see his ball roll into the cup, though cheers from the gallery let him know he had holed out.

"Yeah, wonderful day for sure," Garcia told reporters. "I saw the ball hit right of the green and it started rolling. I thought it’s probably going to end up close … We were saying ‘go in, go in’ and all of a sudden everybody goes ‘wow’ as I can’t really see the hole from the tee box.

"It was quite nice to see it happen."

Though without a W this year, Garcia has been competitive, recording six PGA Tour top-10s. He was confident about cadging that elusive 21st official global win.

"I feel like I played well both days. I probably didn’t make as many putts," said Garcia, whose girlfriend Katharina Boehm is looping for him at this week’s Asian Tour event. "Driving the ball very nicely and hitting a lot of greens and my short game has been pretty good, so overall I’m very happy with it."

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Dawie Van der Walt wins the Nelson Mandela Championship in Durban

Dawie van der Walt held his nerve over the closing holes to win the Nelson Mandela Championship by two shots and claim only his second European Tour title.

In a tournament reduced to 54 holes following several rain disruptions, the South African followed up rounds of 67 and 62 with a score of 66 to sit at the top of the pile on 15 under par in Durban.

Ireland's David Higgins finished with a share of 11th place after a level-par 70 left him on eight under par.

Damien McGrane (69) and Michael Hoey (74) shared 50th place on two under par.

Van Der Walt mixed three birdies with as many bogeys on the opening 11 holes but moved to the top of the leaderboard with an eagle on the par-five 12th, then picking up further shots on the 13th and 15th to finish ahead of England's Matthew Baldwin and Spaniard Jorge Campillo.

The 30-year-old, who won his first Tour event in the Tshwane Open in March, admitted it was an emotional victory coming so soon after the death of Mandela, South Africa's first black president who died last week aged 95.

"It's obviously really special, making you a part of history," he said. "Winning The Nelson Mandela at this time, when it's sad for everyone, everyone is mourning and tomorrow's the big day (Mandela's funeral), it means a lot and it's something I can keep close to my heart for ever.

"I haven't been in that good form, I've been struggling with an injury, so this is almost overwhelming.

"To win the last event of the year is going to make Christmas a lot more fun."

Baldwin carded 68 on his final round with four birdies and two bogeys for an overall score of 13 under to share second place with Campillo, who picked up three shots and a bogey to also card 68.

Campillo had been one of two players - along with South African Colin Nel - to score 59 during Friday's second round.

They were the first recorded 59s in European Tour history but both scores were achieved after using preferred lies following heavy downpours which left the course waterlogged and will therefore not count as official records.

Englishman Daniel Brook had held the overnight lead sitting on 12 under through 11 holes of his second round, when bad light had stopped play, but fell away on Saturday with a nightmare third round in which he posted five bogeys and a double bogey on fourth.

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Sergio Garcia pulls clear at Thailand Golf Championship

Sergio Garcia carded a second straight seven-under-par 65 to establish a four-shot lead after the third round of the Thailand Golf Championship in Chonburi.

The Spaniard collected five of his eight birdies on the back nine, including on 17 and 18 to cap a superb day's work. He dropped just one shot, at the fourth, and was 18 under after 54 holes of at the star-studded Asian Tour event.

"It was great obviously to be able to go out there and shoot 65 again," the 33-year-old said. "I played nicely and felt pretty comfortable.

“I was able to hit some really nice shots and then was able to roll two or three really good putts in and it was nice to be able to finish birdie, birdie on this difficult finishing stretch."

He will head into Sunday's final round four strokes ahead of Sweden's Henrik Stenson and India's Anirban Lahiri, who remained firmly in the hunt with rounds of 65 and 67 respectively.

England's Justin Rose, the overnight joint leader, was a shot further back after falling off the pace on Saturday with a two-under 70.

Despite his healthy advantage, Garcia acknowledged there was still plenty of work to be done at the Amata Spring Country Club.

"Not only Henrik... there are probably five or six guys who can shoot a really good number," said Garcia, whose girlfriend Katharina Boehm is acting as his caddie this week.

"It's going to be exciting tomorrow. I'll just try to do the same things I've been doing and stay focused, stay patient and hopefully I'll be able to play well enough to win.

"I want to try to be as aggressive as possible. I want to still try to make as many birdies as I can and, if I manage to do that, then I'm going to make it quite difficult for the rest.

“I think if I start getting a little defensive, then I can give them a good opportunity of catching me."

US Open champion Rose was disappointed to have dropped back, despite the only bogey of his day coming on 18.

The world number four said: "It's a frustrating sort of way to finish the round. I played better than any other day or as good as any other day.

"Sergio got ahead and a couple good birdies for him to finish. But I felt like I had the opportunity to put a good round together and to not do it is frustrating."

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Garcia aces to share Thailand lead with Justin Rose

Spaniard Sergio Garcia sank a magical hole-in-one in a sparkling round of seven-under-par 65 to share the halfway lead with Englishman Justin Rose at the Thailand Golf Championship.

Garcia, 33, aced the par-three eighth hole at the Amata Spring Country Club to go with five birdies on his blemish-free card to lead at 11-under 133.

"Yeah, wonderful day for sure," the Spaniard, chasing his first win of the year, told reporters.

"I saw the ball hit right of the green and started rolling.

"I was calling it to go in, and thought it's probably going to end up close ... We were saying go in, go in and all of a sudden everybody goes 'wow' as I can't see the hole from the tee box. It was quite nice to see it happen.

"There are still two days to go. I'm obviously going to have to keep playing well, like I've done the first two days," said Garcia.

World number four Rose fired an eagle, three birdies and one bogey for a 68 to join his Ryder Cup team mate at the top.

"It was a funny round, I got off to a bit of a slow start and it all started to happen for me in the middle of the round," said Rose.

"I just want to keep having fun. I want to end the season in a good way, even if I win or don't win."

Overnight leader Alex Cejka shot 71 to fall two shots behind, along with Frenchman Alexander Levy and India's Anirban Lahiri who carded the day's best of 64.

Birthday boy Rickie Fowler rode a four-birdie spurt on his inward nine to shoot 66 and lie one shot behind the trio.

"I finally got a few things going, felt a little better and hit some better putts," the American said after moving into title contention.

"I just stayed patient and made the turn and started to kind of rattle off some birdies so it was nice to finish off strong and get a good round."

World number three Henrik Stenson of Sweden shot 67 to be four shots off lead while holder Charl Schwartzel of South Africa laboured to a 73 and was eight adrift.

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Brooks leads in rain-hit Mandela Championship as Campillo, Nel hit 59s

England's Daniel Brooks finished a rain-affected day three of the Nelson Mandela Championship at the top of the leaderboard after play was suspended due to bad light.

Brooks was through 11 holes and was on 12-under-par when play was halted at 6.45pm local time in Durban, South Africa.

However, the story of the day was Spain's Jorge Campillo and South African Colin Nel becoming the first players to card 59s on the European Tour – but their efforts will not go into the record books.

Campillo, yet to win a tour event, fired seven birdies and two eagles in a faultless round but both scores were achieved after using preferred lies following heavy downpours which left the course waterlogged.

As a result, the round will not be entered into the record books.

Brooks, who had to return to qualifying school last month after a disappointing rookie campaign in 2013, was a shot clear of early leader Campillo when play was suspended.

Tournament organisers chose to reduce the event to 54 holes in the morning due to the weather conditions, with Campillo taking advantage of the preferred lies to card a sub-60 score and move joint top of the overall leaderboard with England's Matthew Baldwin early on day two.

At the end of day three, Campillo was tied for second with Baldwin on 11 under par, while Nel was down in a nine-way tie for 27th place.

Oliver Bekker, Branden Grace and Dawie van der Walt ended the day two strokes off the leader, with the latter set to finish the last five holes in the morning.

Ireland’s Michael Hoey is in a tie for tenth on six under par, six off the lead while David Higgins is seven off the lead on five under, after ten holes of his second round.

Campillo fired eagles on the fourth and 12th holes along with seven birdies in his flawless round while Nel also eagled the 12th in a round which also saw him card nine birdies.

The European Tour confirmed, however, that the two 59s would not count as official records because they were achieved using preferred lies and from a reduced par.

The early finish on Friday means the players who are still to finish their second round will resume at 6am on Saturday, before the third and final round begins after 9:15am local time.

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